Just Quick Note - Santander Bank BR was Successful!

08/16/23 @ExpatUSATravels.  Glad that it worked out for you.  I think you've found "your" bank.

I was told some time back that once you used your foreign bank card successfully at any Brazilian bank's ATM for a withdrawal, your card was linked to that particular bank and wouldn't work anywhere else from then on.  I don't offer that as advice to anyone because I've never been able to find it in writing anywhere, but it's been my experience.  I made a withdrawal from my US account at a Bradesco ATM in 2014 and have never been able to use another bank's since, even though I'm a BB client now.  If I try an ATM at Santander, Itaú, or even BB, it grinds and flashes for a while, then spits back my card with a cryptic message.  Bradesco always works for me, though.  Pretty annoying.

@abthree Thanks.... and wow that is so weird that you think all other banks are now blocking my card except SANT.

I doubt that is true - but ya never know. It may very well be the case.

I will try a few more banks in the future like incl Caxia.

So crazy banking in Brasil is. One guy 12 years ago called banks in Brasil dinosaurs when it to banking.

Not a pleasant experience.

And not only that I know of a Brazilian that has constant problems with Bradesco and them not screwing up her Brasil Conta Corrente constantly.

In Mexico every ATM worked all the time 3 different banks. Mexico is much friendlier for ATM machines it seems.